Flu? Shoo! Hospitals limit, screen patient visitors

Minnesota hospitals are asking for help in the effort to protect their patients from H1N1 flu: If you're sick, don't come for a visit.

Allina Hospitals and Clinics, the Twin Cities' largest hospital group, said Monday that it is placing limits on visitors to labor and pediatric units at 10 hospitals in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Visitors will be screened for flu symptoms and required to have been fever-free for 24 hours.

"Until vaccines come, our only defense is prevention," said Allina spokesman Tim Burke. "We don't want to expose our vulnerable population."

In addition, visitors must be over age 5 if they are siblings and over age 16 if they are not. Parents of patients may be asked to wear masks if they have flu symptoms.

Mothers, newborn babies and young children are among the most likely to suffer severe illness from the H1N1 virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Other hospital groups to adopt new visiting rules, mostly for children and for labor and pediatric units, include Fairview Health Services, HealthEast, Park Nicollet and Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Children's Hospitals adopted new visitor rules Oct. 1, barring visits by children under age 5, including siblings of patients. Children 5 to 12 are allowed only after a patient has been in the hospital for four days. And patients are allowed a maximum of four guests a day, including parents and siblings, said Don Brunnquell, director of the Office of Ethics.

"We know children want their brothers and sisters around, and it is good for them," said Brunnquell. "But it's also about balancing the exposure, especially the first few days when the child is here because that is when they usually are sickest."

Children's Hospitals said the restrictions will remain in place until the flu season ends. Brunnquell said parents have been understanding and cooperative.

Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville is barring visitors under age 18 to its neonatal intensive care unit and allowing only two adults at a time. At Fairview's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital, the limit is four adults and no one under age 18, said Jennifer Amundson, a spokeswoman for Fairview Health Services. No changes have been adopted at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, but officials there are considering what changes might be needed.

Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital is asking people with flu symptoms not to visit patients. In addition, it will allow only healthy siblings of newborn patients into the Family Birth Center.

HealthEast, the owner of St. John's and St. Joseph's hospitals in St. Paul and the Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury, will ask visitors at the lobby if they have flu symptoms or have been in contact with flu patients.

North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale is urging visitors with flu symptoms or other illnesses to stay home and will not allow children under age 12 to its newborn intensive care unit, said Robert Prevost, a hospital spokesman.

Hospitals around the country are adopting similar measures, and while rules vary from place to place, public health officials generally say that people with flu symptoms should stay home to avoid exposing others.

The Allina policy covers Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, United Hospital in St. Paul, Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Unity Hospital in Fridley, St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, Cambridge Medical Center in Cambridge, Minn., Buffalo Hospital in Buffalo, Minn., Owatonna Hospital in Owatonna, Minn., New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm and River Falls Area Hospital in River Falls, Wis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.